D&D 5E Sneak Attack: Is it broken?

[EzekielRaiden]

I've seen comments on several threads, which basically boiled down to "X would be fine, if it weren't for Sneak Attack." Warlord attack-granting. Greenflame Blade. Damage on a miss. Multiclass combos. Feats, core and custom. A few other places. It shows up really often--like, in nearly every thread where an attack-related feature gets discussed, somebody comes in and says, pretty much point-blank, "Wow that is/would be SUPER BROKEN with Sneak Attack."

So, as the title says. Is Sneak Attack broken?

 

[Yunru]

No no, not at all. By itself.
It is however very fragile from a balance perspective.

 

[Uchawi]

It may be a spotlight effect, where when it does work well, it does work well, but overall it is meh or average. If I would point to anything, it is how easy is it to get advantage in the game. Since advantage is useful for every class, it becomes a primary mechanic that is sought at every turn.

 

[Azurewraith]

If anything i would say sneak attack could use a little help to keep up with SS/GWM but then that's more those feats over preform.

You want Op sneak attack try looking at 3.5sneak attack where it applied to every attack and you could be making 5attacks around for like 10d6

 

[Yunru]

I think they could of gotten away with applying it to every attack and give them Extra Attack. Obvious SA itself would do less.

 

[CapnZapp]

No no, not at all. By itself.
It is however very fragile from a balance perspective.

This.

 

[Psikerlord#]

If you dont use optional rules such as feats or MCing, SA is fine. What turns out to be broken then is paladin smite. But that is fixable by making smite cost a bonus action. Then, if you want to use feats, change the -5/+10 for GWM and SS into +1 stat.

And you're good to go, damage ballpark wise.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Not by itself. But at a particular table with a particular makeup of characters and a particular DMs playstyle? Sure. Could be.

But then again, most abilities could be considered broken given those parameters.

And then... it's up to the DM to adjust things if the particular "broken" thing is causing issues at the table and it is not making the game fun for everyone. Pretty much what the DM is doing all the time anyway.

 

[CapnZapp]

If you dont use optional rules such as feats or MCing, SA is fine.

I don't see sneak damage as unbalanced even with feats and multiclassing.

Any particular combo you have in mind?

 

[lowkey13]

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